198
"Adventure is a path. Real adventure - self-determined, self-motivated, often risky, forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and the bottomless cruelty of humankind - and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white." - Mark Jenkins
These are the faces that moved mountains in my heart this December while in Thailand. I want to introduce them to you. To me, they are beautiful. One of my photography mentors once told me that "to photograph someone well we must first love them." It is easy to capture a photo of someone on the street, but to capture them with all the dignity and nobility they posses, this is more challenging. This is what I'm interested in when I capture people. My heart is to dig beneath what meets the eye and reveal humanity through my images. One of my favorite photographers, Sebastiao Salgado once said, "If you take a picture of a human that does not make him noble, there is no reason to take this picture."
Our lives cannot be understood on flat on a page... Life must be experienced, embraced, & seen from a different perspective. There comes a time in each of our lives when we must jump out of the boat, learn to love better, stand amidst a people that is very different than what we know, and let it challenge us to the core. It is in these beautiful moments when truth emerges and we can see ourselves with a certain transparency that will never surface when we sit in our boats of comfort. Many times we confuse comfort with happiness. You see, living the rich life is all about being uncomfortable. It is in these moments that we become aware of our wings and then learn how to make them flap against the wind.... it is in these glorious moments when we can understand the exhilaration of flight that lives within us.
Thank you Thailand for reminding me of just how big my wings are and just how far they can take me.
Thoughts
Add a Comment
View Comments (33)
I have loved all of your pictures for a few months now but these are incredible. I have always wanted to be so bold to take pictures of the people I see on the street in other countries but I am always too nervous. Thank you for sharing your wonderful pictures!
Incredibly moving, and awesome portraits. Thank you for sharing.
what a great collection. I love how colorful everything is. Thailand is definitely up there on my list of places to visit. My favorite is the older lady sitting in the blue chair. She looks so fun and spunky.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said "A man finds room in the few square inches of his face for the traits of all his ancestors; for the expression of all his history, and his wants." That resonates in these images and tells me that a special place in your heart was touched by each one. You have that gift.
@wrecklessgirl she is mine too... such a proud woman.
the last woman, she is my favourite.
Gorgeous photos!!!
Hi. I love all your picturs. The ones in Thailand are so inspiring. I mentioned you on my blog today as one of my faves. Hope you have a wonderful New Years and THANK YOU. Melina
These are amazing. So much life :)
These portraits are wonderful! You truly captured each personality in his/her environment. I especially love the attitude of the last woman! Kudos :)
Gorgeous photos! I love how you captured the spirit and essence of each person and Thailand.
Gorgeous photos! I love how you captured the spirit and essence of each person and Thailand.
these are beautiful sarah! i hope you had a wonderful vacation... much deserved i'm sure!
So addicted to your blog. You are incredibly talented.
Love ALLL of these. Wonderful wonderful work!
Gorgeous and true.
Beautifully captured! You did an amazing job! I love it!
This is a really interesting set of portraits, great work.
Thailand is the coolest place I've ever been. This makes me want to buy a ticket back there now.
@Beata I am likely going to do a post on this in the coming weeks but in short, yes, I raise my camera in question and smile to ask if I can take someone's photo before I snap the shot. All of these portraits were shot with my 35mm lens so I had to be pretty darn close to the people. Thailand is called "the land of smiles" and they truly live up to their name. Most of the people were very open and willing to have their portraits taken. There were only 3 times throughout the trip that I asked and was turned down. Every culture is different, every person is different and it is important to respect people when we capture them :) hope that helps... I'll do a full post on street photography in the coming weeks.
You are SO inspiring Sarah!!!
Beautiful what you wrote! I'm a big fan of Sebastiao Salgado, he's from the same country I'm from. :)
I LOVE to come here, your words always touches my heart! Thank You for that!
:)
Hi there Sarah - I just can't stop looking at your photos from Thailand - amazing! Just a question - did you just go up and ask to take the person's photo? I'm off to the US in March and want to take photos of any interesting people i cross paths with on our road trip. sometimes just hesitant to take a photo of a complete stranger...
Love B
You are SO inspiring Sarah!!!
Beautiful what you wrote! I'm a big fan of Sebastiao Salgado, he's from the same country I'm from. :)
I LOVE to come here, your words always touches my heart! Thank You for that!
:)
Hi there Sarah - I just can't stop looking at your photos from Thailand - amazing! Just a question - did you just go up and ask to take the person's photo? I'm off to the US in March and want to take photos of any interesting people i cross paths with on our road trip. sometimes just hesitant to take a photo of a complete stranger...
Love B
amazing.
your words brought tears to my eyes. It was exactly what I needed to hear tonight. The photos are most evidently emotionally connected. Thank you.
Thank you for such a beautiful reminder of jumping out of the boat. I cannot wait to talk when you get back.
the first portrait, that's my dad...skin tone, wrinkles, glasses, everything. in just one portrait, you were able to make me miss my dad.
Incredibly wise and moving words.
These are all so beautiful, but there are a few that absolutely stopped me in my tracks - where the soul of the person shone through the photograph with complete and utter clarity.
Impressive and full of heart.
Wow, these are all such powerful images! You captured each of theses individuals beautifully. They all have a different special look in their eye! I always enjoy seeing what you're up to next! Great job!
These are absolutely breathtaking. I am in love with the last shot. The look on that woman's face is priceless!
Stunning portraits. So much character.
Wow, these are all such powerful images! You captured each of theses individuals beautifully. They all have a different special look in their eye! I always enjoy seeing what you're up to next! Great job!
Truly artistic. Thank you.
Great pictures, love the soldier!